a Pacer alternative
Pacer is one of the most-rated step counters on the US App Store — 333,819 ratings, 4.9 on average, when we read its listing in October 2026 — with walking groups and clubs. When people leave it, they say why in their reviews. Angel Step, the step counter we make, is built around the four things its 1- and 2-star reviews mention most.
What Pacer's low reviews talk about
We collected App Store reviews of ten step counters and counted, by hand-written rules, which themes each review mentions. In Pacer's 47 reviews rated 1 or 2 stars, the most common themes were the step count being off (23.4%), friends and competition (23.4%), subscription and price (21.3%) and motivation (17%).
| theme | share | reviews |
|---|---|---|
| the step count being off | 23.4% | 11 of 47 |
| friends and competition | 23.4% | 11 of 47 |
| subscription and price | 21.3% | 10 of 47 |
| motivation | 17% | 8 of 47 |
These are the reviews the App Store shows first, not a random sample, and one review can mention several themes. The full counts, for all ten apps and all 21 themes, are in what step counter reviews talk about.
How Angel Step answers each
We make Angel Step, so take this as ours.
The count
Angel Step shows the total Apple Health keeps — the same number you see in Health, on its screen and in its widget. It never keeps a second count of its own to disagree with.
Friends, without a race
You can invite someone with a link or a code; when they take their first walk, a sky opens for both of you. There is no leaderboard and no shared score: each of you walks toward your own number.
Price
Angel Step is free to download, and the number, the sky and the widgets on the Home Screen and the Lock Screen are free to use. There are no ads and no account.
Motivation
Your daily goal is an angel number — one of twelve, from 3333 to 22222 — that is easy to see at a glance. A missed day gets no red mark.
What stays the same
Both read Apple Health. Your steps are recorded by your iPhone into Apple Health, not by either app, so moving from one to the other leaves your history where it is.
Questions
What is a good alternative to Pacer?
If you want a step counter without a leaderboard, with free widgets and a count that matches Health, Angel Step is built around that: it shows Apple Health's own total, has no ads and no account, and lets you walk with a friend without a score.
Is there a free alternative to Pacer?
Angel Step is free to download, and the number, the sky and the widgets on the Home Screen and the Lock Screen are free to use.
Will I lose my steps if I switch from Pacer?
No. Your iPhone records steps into Apple Health, not into the app, so your history stays in Health and any step counter that reads Health shows it.
Can I walk with friends in Angel Step?
Yes, without a race. Invite someone with a link or a code; when they take their first walk, a sky opens for both of you, and each of you walks toward your own number.
Sources
- Review themes: our open dataset of step counter reviews (CC BY 4.0), Pacer Pedometer Step Counter, reviews rated 1–2 stars.
- Pacer Pedometer Step Counter on the US App Store — ratings and walking groups, read 10 October 2026 (our guide to step counters with friends). App Store listing.
- How Health combines iPhone and Apple Watch steps: how to see steps on Apple Watch.
Updated